The spirit of Bali has not changed!

by Monika Sugiarto
(Jakarta and Bali)

A market 30 years ago (this is an old slide I made)

One of the latest beaches in the South of Bali

Over the last 30 years Bali has definitely become bigger and more famous. Has the unique Balinese spirit given way to the tourist onslaught? I strongly believe that Bali is still Bali! Today the island dares to close down completely during Nyepi, no other international tourist destination does that for the sake of believes and traditions.

Are there places that are crowded, even overcrowded? Yes, definitely; Kuta is the party and ‘in’ place to be and does not reflect the Bali spirit. It is just another playground for international tourists. If you want to see the real Bali, seek it in quieter places which are still plentiful.

I think Bali is still a place you need to see; it has plenty of unique bits and pieces for you to discover. It should be on your bucket list of things to do! What do you think?

There are plenty of Bali beach hotels in Sanur, Legian, Seminyak, Jimbaran, Nusa Dua, Benoa and also on smaller beaches to the north. On this page though, let’s start where it all started; with the Ba…